Jimenez for Norris tonight against Angels

The Orioles scratched Bud Norris from tonight's game due to an illness. He's 1-4 with a 9.88 ERA in six starts. He's also 4-0 with a 0.43 ERA in six career starts against the Angels.

Norris can't catch a break.

Norris, who's taking medication for bronchitis, has allowed two earned runs (four total) in 41 2/3 innings against the Angels. They've hit only one home run off him.

The Angels might be the ideal tonic for Norris, who's 30 earned runs this season in 27 1/3 innings led the American League going into last night's games. If he makes a speedy recovery, he could pitch Sunday in the series finale.

The current players on the Angels' roster actually are batting .300 against Norris (39-for-130). David Freese is 11-for-23 (.478) and Mike Trout is 6-for-18 (.333) with three doubles.

Albert Pujols is 8-for-42 (.190) with four doubles.

Fans on Twitter and the blog were celebrating Ubaldo Jimenez's insertion into tonight's game, which shows how drastically things can change. He would have started Sunday under normal circumstances.

While Norris has dominated the Angels, Jimenez has lost all four starts and posted a 6.12 ERA and 1.520 WHIP in 25 innings.

The Angels are batting .357 (20-for-56) against Jimenez. Erick Aybar is 5-for-11 (.455) with a home run. Pujols is 6-for-19 with (.316) with a double, home run and eight RBIs.

Angels starter Matt Shoemaker is 2-3 with a 6.61 ERA in six starts this year, and his 10 home runs in 31 1/3 innings led the American League last night.

Shoemaker took the loss in his only career start against the Orioles after allowing four runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings, but he walked none and struck out 10. He's never pitched at Camden Yards.

Adam Jones is 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBIs against Shoemaker, and Alejandro De Aza doubled twice in two at-bats.

Manny Machado figures to lead off again tonight, as he's done in 11 other games this season. He 13-for-42 (.310) with four doubles, two home runs, four RBIs and eight runs scored atop the order.

"He was swinging the bat good before that," said manager Buck Showalter. "I tell you, I don't think anybody on our team hit more balls on the button at people than Manny."

Machado has batted second in 210 games, easily the most of any slot in the order. Could he stay in the leadoff spot this season?

It's not out of the realm of possibility. A lot depends on how De Aza is swinging the bat.

"Manny's not a base clogger," Showalter said. "In fact, he's running, I think, as good as he's ever run. And for every guy that might steal a base better than him, they won't hit the doubles that Manny gets. Gaining that extra 90 feet, there's two ways to look at it. It also gives him more at-bats. Right-handed leadoff hitters are pretty rare. They're usually left or switch. Not many at all.

"It kind of fits for us right now. I'm kind of hoping that Alejandro is getting ready to revert back to track record a little bit. He's done well at home and is coming off a couple good games, but we'll see."

De Aza began last night batting .314/.385/.543 in nine home games and .159/.196/.295 in 12 road games.

Single-A Frederick catcher Steel Russell, son of Orioles bench coach John Russell, was placed on the disabled list yesterday with a sprained right thumb - the same one he fractured in May 2014. He went on the DL earlier this season with a concussion.

Catching is a tough gig.

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